Shutter-operating device for automobile radiators



Sept 9, 1930- l"L.. G. HARTDQRN 1,775,344

SHUTTER OPERATING DEVCE FOR AUTOMOBILE RADIATORS I Original lFiled. Slept. `29, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l A T RNEY,

Sept. 9, 1930.l L. G. HARTDORN y 1,775,344

` SHUTTER OPERATING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILE RADIATORS Original Filed Sept. 29, 1925 2 Sl'xeets-Sheetv 2 INVENTOR. Mul fg. 7km/W4 BY 7n d v ATTO EY Patented Sept. 9, 1930` UNITED STATES LOUIS G. HARTDORN, F FOREST HILLS, NEW YORK SHUTTER-OPERATING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILE 'RADIATORS Application filed September 29, 1925, Serial No. 59,253. Renewed .Tune 28, 1929.

This invention relates to an improved device for operating the shutters of automobile radiators and operates to open the shutters and keep them open When the cooling Water in the radiator is hot and the engine is running but to close the shutters When the engine stops Without regard to the temperature of the Water in the cooling system.

The device lis adapted to be normally inoperative but is made operative by the application of pressure or suction of a fluid. In

other Words, I interpose a clutch in a connection and this clutch has lost motion which is taken up when a suction is applied to the clutch and itis then connected and relatively rigid.

When applied to a shutter for radiators,

for instance, the shutters will proceed to a shut position Whenever the automobile en- 2o gine stops and will be connected to a thermostatic or ther control Whenever the engine is running. This Will insure a prompt closure `of the vshutter When the engine stops and a gradual opening of the shutter when the Water in the radiator rises to a predetermined temperature'.

This functioning insures the regulation of the passage of air-through the radiator and to the fan and engine and also insures a ao complete closure ofthe shutter Whenever the engine stops so that in cold Weather the heat under the hood is conserved and there is no delay caused by the gradual cooling off of the thermostat before the shutter closes. In

other Words, the thermostat may be in position to open the shutter but the shutter Will be closed unless the engine is started.

The device'has a lock in the clutch Which holds the clutch operative under reduced suction, that is, Whenan engine is running at a high speed and the vacuum is therefore reduced and in addition to this the Wind pressure against the shutters tends to close them, the shutters remain open as-the clutch is operative under all degrees of suction until there is practically no vacuum.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a back View of a radiator shutter With the device in place. Figure 2 is an enlarged sectionI of the device. Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 in Figure 2 but on an enlarged'scale. Figure 4 is a perspective view of thethermostatic shutter device with .the `invention in .i

place, this view being limited to but one shutter blade to make the showing more clear. Figure 5 is a view showing the deviceinstalled in a manually operated shutter.

I illustrate a shutter of the usual kind having a frame 10 and a series of blinds'. or blades 11 arranged to close down and shut olf air from passing freely through the radiator and I show at the top a thermostat 12 of the usual kind which thermostat, When heated to a predetermined temperature, opens the shutter and which, when cooled, allows the spring 13 to pull the shutter blinds shut as they are hinged at the openings 14 and are connected by a strip 11a' so that they will move in unison. So far as described, the device is old and the invention resides in the transmitting or connecting device which Will noW be described and also resides in the combination of such device With the elements above described. I i

v The form of device I have selected for illustration comprises a cylinder 15 which contains a piston 16 Which is moved in one direction by the spring 17 and in the other direction by fluid under pressure or suction. I show the pipe 18 Which is connected to the cylinder and to a suitable source ofv suction. The usual Way is to connect it to the vacuum tank or the intake manifold of the automobile engine vvhich tank is not shown.

The piston is mounted on a stem 19 Which slides in the recess 20 in the sleeve 21 which sleeve fits With a sliding fit in the head'22 of the' cylinder.

The stem and the sleeve have co-acting parts that function as a clutch and I show the balls 23 rotatable in the retainer 24 Which is at the inner end of the sleeve and which balls also rest on the stem 19. When the parts are in the position shown in Figure 2, the balls are held against the shoulder 25 of the head 22 and a pull on the cylinder will be transmitted tothe sleeve 21 by the clutch device just described. The sleeve 21 is connected as by the rod 26 and bell crank 2/7 with a rod .stiff spring 28 which is connected to the strip 11a to operate the shutter. l.

The cylinder is con ected by a relatively 29 to the thermostat 12 and show a shaft 30 that turns in thebearings 31 and has an arm 32 connected to the spring 29 and an arm 33 which is connected to and operated by the movable :and operating part 34 of the thermostat 12. l f

When the device is inoperative by reason of the engine being shutpo, there is no suction'on the pipe 18 and the spring 17 pushes the piston back until the recessed part 35 of y the stem permits the balls to drop into the retaining openings shoulder 25 rand sleeve 21 slides out `of the cylinder'and allows the. shutter blinds to fall to closed position. This occurs whenever the engine is not operating, whether the thermostat is cold or hot. Y.

The piston rod or stem 19, it will be noted,

has the enlarged end 37 and the reduced part 35 separated by'a considerable space. This providesa lost-motion device so that the reduction of the'suction does not have any effeet to release the connection'until the suction actually or nearly ceases. lIn other words, from the position shown in Figure 2 the stem 19 Will move slowly outward but the balls 23 are not released until the recessed part 35 of the stem has arrived opposite the balls. Due to this construction, particularly when the device is connected to a vacuum tank a slight reduction in the vacuum will not affect any closing of the shutter. In prior forms of these devices when the engine is the retainer end of the sleeve. .When these associated parts are pulled in far enough to allow the balls to be forced outwardly against the annular shoulder 25vthe sleeve 21 is a ain locked in position as shown in Figure 2. he piston rod can still` travel until the iange 37 is stopped by engaging the balls 23. The connection is, therefore, now relatively rigid and the shutter is put in positive connection with the thermostat to regulate the shutter thereby. The thermostat therefore controls the shutter but only When the engine is running and the closing of the shutter is assured whenever the engine stops.

I prefer to use the spring 29 rather than a rigid connection asthe springl will take up any slack due to any Wear or inequality in the parts and, in addition thereto, forms a yield- 24 far enough to clear the ing connection which is suicient to prevent a sticking of the parts and therefore'makes a much smoother workin device. It will bey evident, however, that i desired the connection can be in the form of a rod instead of the spring.

In Figure 5 I show a manually operable device with a rod 38 adjustable as' by teeth 39 on the dash board of the car.' When the de-( Yvice is set by this mechanism the shutter will' open to an extent determined by the position of the rod 38 when the engine runs but the shutter will close whenever the engine stops as`the suction through the pipe 18 will stop and the clutch in the device 15`will be released. The driver can therefore regulate the opening of the shutter to suit conditions and rely on the shutter closing Whenever the engine stops irrespective of the position of the rod 38.

I claim:

1.` In a temperature control device, a therv mostat, a device to be operated thereby, a connection between the thermostat and the device, said connection being normally disconnected, and suction means for making the connection operative when suction is applied.

2. In a regulating device, a clutch compris` inga cylinder, a piston in the cylinder, a pipe connection on one end of the cylinder for the application of suction, a stem on which the piston is mounted, a sleeve in the end of the cylinder,

the sleeve having a recess into which the stem can slide, and a clutch device for connecting the stem and the cylinder when the piston is moved by suction.

3. In combination, a shutter for an automobile radiator, a means for regulating the shutter, said means including a suction operated device, said suction vdevice including a clutch to secure the device in contracted position when suction is applied and retain the contracted position under reduced suction until there is practically no vacuum.

4. In combination, a shutter' for an automobile radiator, a means for regulating the shutter, said means including a suction operated device and a clutch placed in locking position when the device is fully contracted and automatic means for releasing the .clutch when the suction ceases.

5. In combination with an engine and a shutter therefor, a thermostatic shutter actuating device, and means actuated by the engine to establish a fixed operating relation between said shutter and saiddevice only While the engine is running. l

6. In a temperature control device, a thermostat, a device to be operated thereby, a connection between the thermostat andthe device, said connection comprising a normally non-rigid portion, and suction means for making said portion rigid.

7. In a temperature control device, a thermostat, a device to be operated thereby, a

connection between the thermostat and the device, said connection including a lost motion portion, and suction means for taking up said lost motion and maintaining said portion at a fixed length as long as suction is applied. Y

8. In a temperature control device, a thermostat, a device to be operated thereby,l a connection between the thermostat and the device, said'connection being normally op.- eratively disconnected, suction means for operatively connecting said connection at a predetermined degree of suction, and means for v maintaining the operative connection unvaried by'subsequent fluctuations of suction.

9. In a temperature control device, a shutter, an actuating means therefor, a connection between the shutter and the actuating means, said connection being normally inoperative, suction means for making said connection operative, and means for maintaining the operative' connection u nvaried by subsequent fluctuations of suction.

10. In a temperature control device, a

shutter, an actuating means therefor, a suction means, and means controlled by the suction means forestablishing an operative .relation between the shutter and the actuating means, said operative relation being unvaried by fluctuations of v suction in the suction means.

` 11. In combination with an engine and a shutter therefor, a'shutter actuating device, a connector interposed between the shutter and the actuating device and com rising a pair of relatively extensible mem rs, Vand means operated by suction of theengine for latching said members together at al predetermined extension thereof.

12. In combination with an en 'ne'and a shutter therefor, a shutter actuatlng device, a connector interposed between the shutter land the actuating device and comprising a pair of relativel extensible members, means operated by suction of the engine for latching said members to ether at a predetermined extension thereo and means operating to unlatch said members when the engine stops running. c

13. In combination'with an en 'ne a shutter therefor, a shutter actuatmg devlce, means controlled by suction of the engine for establishing an operative relationV between thel shutter and the actuating device, said operative relation being unvaried by fluctuations of suction of the engine. l

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

LOUIS G. HARTDORN. 

